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This site is the inspiration of a former reporter/photographer for one of New England's largest daily newspapers and for various magazines. The intent is to direct readers to interesting political articles, and we urge you to visit the source sites. Any comments may be noted on site or directed to KarisChaf at gmail.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The Afghanistan government’s recent release of dozens of imprisoned
terrorists, many of whom had killed Americans, was a galling betrayal of
those Americans who died defending Afghanistan against the Taliban
terrorists — as well as those Americans who have returned home with arms
or legs missing, or with minds traumatized beyond repair.

If we learn nothing else from the bitter tragedy of the war in
Afghanistan, it should be that we should put an end forever to the
self-indulgence of thinking that we can engage in “nation-building” and
creating “democracy” in countries where nothing resembling democracy has
ever existed.

It would be a feat to achieve one of these objectives, but to achieve
both at the same time is a gamble that makes playing Russian roulette
look like a harmless pastime.

F.A. Hayek said, “We shall not grow wiser until we learn that much
that we have done was very foolish.” Nothing is more foolish — and
immoral — than sending men into battle to risk their lives winning
victories that are later lost by politicians for political reasons.

That started long before the war in Afghanistan. Vietnam was a
classic example. Years after that war was over, the Communist victors
themselves admitted that they lost militarily in Vietnam, as they knew
they would. But they won politically in America, with the help of
Americans, including the media — as they also knew they would.

The war in Iraq was more of the same. American troops won that war
but our politicians lost the peace. Terrorists have now taken over, and
raised Al Qaeda flags, in some Iraqi towns that American troops
liberated at the cost of many lives.

How did this happen? It happened much the same way it happened in
Afghanistan. We insisted on trying to create a “democracy” in the Middle
East — a place with a history going back thousands of years, without a
single democracy.

What we created instead was a local ruler, placed in charge as a
result of the blood and treasure of Americans, but independent of us,
because he won an election that we insisted on holding — as if there are
no prerequisites for democracy.

To compound the problem, we had members of Congress constantly
talking about pulling out of Iraq, and demanding a timetable — despite
what military madness it is to tell your enemy when you will be gone.

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